Separator bar for warp stop motion



June 22, 1943. o. v. PAYNE- SEPARATOR BAR FOR WARP STOP MOTION Original Filed Dec. 26, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INvEM-roR O scan \/.P aYNz.

ATTQRNEY June 22, 1943.

o. ,v. PAYNE 2,322,385

SEPARATOR BAR FOR WARP STOP MOTION Original Filed Dec. 26, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 52 E INVENTOR 55 53 scaw. V PAYNE." FIG. 5' I ATTORNEY Patented June 22, 1943 SEPARATOR BAR FOR WARP STOP MOTION Gscar V. Payne, Leicester, Mass, assignor to Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worcester, Masa, a corporation of Massachusetts Qriginal application December 26, 1941, Serial N 0. 424,492. Divided and this application May 21, 1942, Serial No. 443,886

claims. (Cl. 139-369) This is a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 424,492, filed December 26, 1941. a

This invention relates to improvements in warp stop motions for looms and it is the general object-of the invention to provide means by which parts of the mechanism can be made readilyadjustable for changing conditions of Weaving.

Warp stop mechanisms customarily employ drop Wires which are guided and held apart in banks by separator bars, The latter. determine the elevation of the warp threads and therefore the height of the drop wires with respect to the detector bars. Heretofore difiiculty has been experienced in adjusting the separator, bars relatively to the detector bars, and any given warp stop mechanism required a drop wire designed specifically for it. It is an important object of my present invention to provide meanswhich afford a delicate adjustment. for the vertical positionof the separator bars with respect to the detector bars so that the best operatingconditions for any givendrop wire can be attained, and also to permit the use of various types of drop wires.

Where several banks of drop wires are used it is customary to employ. relatively high front and back separator bars. andlow intermediate bars. Where the warp is under considerable tension the low intermediatebars do not interfere with the operation of the drop wires, but when the warp is slack, or when certain decorative warp threads become slack, the corresponding drop wires between the intermediate bars sagand are likely to give a false indication. In order toovercome this difiiculty it has been necessary heretofore to remove. the low intermediate bars and replace them with high bars of the same size as the front and back bars. It is a further object of my present invention so to shape the intermediate bars that their uppersurfaces can be either in low or high position as determined by requirements of the fabric being woven, This result I attain by making the intermediate bars'invertible and thus permit one set of bars to perform the function heretofore attainable only by the use of two sets of intermediate bars.

Where the warp stop mechanism is of the electrical type it is necessary to provide some connection between the insulated electrodes of the contact bars-andthe loom controlling circuit. Such connections have heretofore been provided but have always required some form of manipulation with the aid of tools at the loom. It is a further object of my present invention to provide a quickly attachable member made of elastic material such as rubber and having a contact element shaped in such a manner that it can be slipped element to engage the insulated electrode of the car.

Withthese and otherobjects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter-described and set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, whereina convenient embodiment of my invention is set forth,

Fig. lis a vertical section through a warp stop mechanism made according to my presentinvention taken longitudinally of the warp threads and looking toward one of the loomsides, I

Fig. 2 is arear elevation looking in thedi-rection of arrow 2, Fig 1,

Fig. 3 is a detailed vertical section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, i

Fig, 4 is a Vertical sectionon line 4' 4 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is avertical section on line 5+5- of Fig. 1 showing the intermediate bars in low position,

Fig. 6 is a view similar to a portionof Fig. 5 but with the intermediate bars shown inverted and in high position,

Fig. 7 is a group diagrammatic view showing the relation of the. adjacent endsof the end and intermediate separator bars, and

Fig. 8 is a. perspective View of one of the supporting units.

The structure shown in the drawings, except the contact members for, the contact bars, is duplicated oneach side of the loom. A description will be given of the mechanism atone side only with the understanding that it appliesto both ends of the loom. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the loom frame It supportsv a bearing ll having a hub H! which receives a verticalgudgeon 13 of asupport It. A horizontal threaded bar I5 is held in longitudinally adjusted position on the support l4 by means of setscrews I6 and extends rearwardly; parallel to thewarp threads W.

Strung along the bar 15 is a series ofseparate holding units as indicated in Fig. 1. back units 20 and 2| are engaged by lock nuts 22 and 23, respectively, and other units25 similar to each other are located between the front and back units. As shownparticularly inFig. 1 unitZO has a head 28 and a lateral slot 21 to receive the front separator or Warp supporting'bar 2,8. The rear unit 2! is formedwithout a slot corresponding to slot 27- but hasa verticalfront walltilwhich extends along the rear separator bar at Bars 28 andj3i are relatively higlrand the warp extends alongv their. upper edges,

Each of the intermediate units 25 has a head 33 Front and and a slot 34 at the rear face thereof similar to slot 21 and has a front wall 35 for engagement with the separator bars 4!) located in the slots 34. The unit 25 immediately to the left of the front unit as seen in Fig. 1 holds the front bar 28 in position in slot 21 and the slot 34 in the rear face of the rearmost unit cooperates with the previously described wall 35 to hold the rear separator bar 3| in position. The intermediate separator bars are located in their respective slots 34 and held in position by the rear Walls 35 behind them formed on the units 25.

The separator bars are spaced as indicated in Fig. 1 to receive drop wires one of which is indicated at D in Fig. 1. Each drop wire has a closed slot 4| the upper end of which is wedge shaped as at 42 and is further provided with an eye 43 at the upper end of an open slot 44 in the bottom of the wire. A warp thread passes through each eye 43 and contact bars 45 pass through the slots 4|. Each contact bar is provided with a body 4'3 in electrical contact with the heads of the various units as indicated in Fig. 1 and an insulated electrode 41 for each bar 46 is out of electrical contact with the latter but positioned for engagement with the upper wedge shaped part of the drop wire when the latter is in low or stopping position. The heads 25 and 33 hold the contact bars in position above and intermediate the separator bars.

Except as indicated hereinafter the mechanism thus far described may be of the same general form as that set forth in my prior Patent No. 1,852,024.

In carrying my present invention into effect I provide means for raising all of the separator bars simultaneously so that their upper surfaces may be varied to raise or lower the warp threads. In carrying this feature of my invention into effect I provide the front and back units 20 and 2| with cylindrical bores and 5|, respectively, in each of which is located a cylinder or barrel 52. The barrels are connected by a longitudinally extending rod 53 which extends through an opening 55 formed in the lower part of each intermediate unit 25. The axis of the rod is eccentric with respect to the axes of the barrels and its rear end is bent laterally as at 51 to form a handle extending behind the rear unit 2| to be accessible to the operator. A set screw 58 in the lower part of unit 2| is provided to hold the barrels in their angularly adjusted position. It is to be understood that the rod 53 is secured to each of the barrels and with the latter forms a unit which is rotated on the front and back units 2% and 2| to vary the elevation of the rod with respect to the contact bars 45.

The front and back separator bars 28 and 3| have their ends reduced as at 63 to project through their corresponding slots and rest on the rod 53. In a similar manner each intermediate separator bar 40 has its end reduced as at 6| to project through the associated slot and rests on the rod 53.

As shown in Fig. 2 the rod 53 is in its lowest position so that the separator bars are at their maximum distance below the contact bars 45. After the mechanism has been attached to its supports as already described by securement of the gudgeon |3 in the hub |2 by set screw II, the nuts 22 and 23 will be loosened and the handle 51 manipulated to rock the barrels in their bearings, thereby raising the rod 53 until the desired nicety of adjustment between the contact bars and the separator bars is attained, after which set screw 58 and the lock nuts 22 and 23 are tightened. In this way I am able to vary the elevation of the separator bars so that they may have proper relation with respect to the contact bars.

Another feature of my invention relates to the invertibility of the intermediate bars 40 so that their vertical position with respect to the front and back bars 28 and 3| can be altered. In carrying this feature of my invention into effect I form the reduced extended ends of the front and back separator bars as indicated in Fig. 5, and at A, Fig. '7, to be central with respect to the top and bottom edges of the bars. By this construction the front and back bars can be placed in position without reference to which of their warp supporting edges is up. The reduced portion 6| of each intermediate box 40, however, is olfset from one edge as indicated in Fig. 6, and at B and C, Fig. 7. When bars 40 are in the low positions shown in Fig. 1 their extensions are relatively high, as indicated at B, Fig. '7, the edge 65 resting on rod 53 being between the upper and lower edges 65 and 61, respectively, and below edge 65 which is continuous along the reduced end 5|.

When a tight warp is being Woven and it is desired to offer as little frictional resistance to the threads as possible on the part of the separator bars, the intermediate bars will be in the low position shown in Fig. l and at A, Fig. *1 with their edges 66 below the tops of bars 28 and 3|. When slack warp is being woven, however, the intermediate bars will be inverted from the position of Fig. 5 to that of Fig. 6 and. the extended edges 66 will rest on the rod 53 as shown at C, Fig. '7. In this latter position the tops of all the separator bars are in substantially the same horizontal plane and will contact and support the warp threads so that even though the latter are slack the drop wires will be held in proper position above the insulating electrodes 41. It will be obvious that whether the intermediate bars are in the position shown in Fig. 5 or Fig. 6 they will be moved with the front and back bars when adjustment is made by the eccentric mounting of rod 53 already'described.

By reference to Figs. 1 and 2 it will be seen that the heads of the various units and the supporting bolt |5 cooperate to align the bores 5| through which the rod 53 extends. Considering the intermediate units 25, for instance, each is formed with a horizontal surface 80 on which rests the overhanging part 8| of the head 33 so that the vertical position of adjacent units is determined by the engagement of the head of one unit with the surface 80 of an adjacent unit. A bore 83 of each unit receives the supporting member l5 and serves to align the units horizontally and the features just described cooperate to align the bores 5| through which the rod 53 passes. These bores 5| are sufliciently large to permit the rod 53 to swing through the are suggested for instance in Fig. 2.

That part of my invention thus far described is equally applicable to mechanism or electrical Warp stop motions and although I have shown an electrical contact bar to cooperate with a fallen drop wire I do not wish necessarily thus to be limited. When the electrical form of bar is used it is desirable to provide means to connect it to the external loom controlling circuit and this I may accomplish by the form of contact member shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. As shown in Fig. 2 the contact bars extend to the left of the organized supporting unit for the separator bars and the insulated electrodes 41 project upwardly for engagement with a type of contact now to be described.

Attached to each end of the protruding contact bars 45 is a contact head made preferably of soft elastic material such as rubber. This head has a bore 16 to receive a contact wire 11 and the head is further provided with a cavity 18 in which is located a contact strip i9 of the general form shown in Fig. i. The central part of this strip is pointed downwardly as indicated at 90 to have contact with the insulated electrode 41, and the strip is connected as at 9| to the Wire 11. The right end of cavity 58, as seen in Fig. 4, is further provided with a pocket 82 to receive the adjacent end of the contact strip 19. A large recess 93 receives the adjacent end of contact bar and the contact member 75 is held in place by its own resilience.

In assembling the contact head the Wire 11 will first be passed through the recess 93 into cavity 78 and then down through the bore Hi, carrying with it at its trailing end the strip 19 the left end of which will be extended into the left end of pocket 13. Because of the elasticity of the material of which the head is made, the upper right corner thereof will then be bent upwardly and twisted on itself to permit pocket 82 to receive the right hand end of the strip 19.

When released the head resumes its normal position indicated in Fig. 4 to hold the contact strip in position and the bar 65 is then slipped endwise into the recess 93 to cause engagement between the insulated electrode &1 and the downturned point 90 of the contact strip 19.

The bars 45 are grounded by their engagement with the units supported on the threaded bar I5, and the contact electrodes 41 are connected to wires 71, only one of which is shown in the drawings, to an external loom controlling circuit. My prior Patents Nos. 1,852,024; 1,873,- 147 and 1,873,465 may be referred to for an understanding of how the loom may be stopped when wire TI is connected to the body 46 of the contact bar by a fallen drop wire.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the intermediate bars are made in such a way that their upper edges can assume two different levels, one of which is in the plane of the top edges of the outer separator bars and the other of which is below this plane. It will be seen that this result is accomplished by having the ends of the intermediate bars made with their centers offset.

with respect to the main part of the bars, the difference in level of the upper edges being attained by a mere inversion.

Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

1. In a warp stop mechanism provided with a plurality of banks of drop wires, a group of separator bars extending parallel to the banks, support means to support certain of the bars of the group with their upper warp supporting edges in fixed position, and the other bars having their ends formed for supporting relation with the support means and so shaped that when said other bars are in one position the top edges thereof are below the top edges of said certain bars and when said other bars are inverted their top edges are in substantial horizontal alignment with the tops of said certain bars.

2. In a warp stop mechanism for a loom provided with a plurality of banks of drop wires, a fixed support, a set of end bars extending along said banks, the banks being located between said end bars, an intermediate separator bar extending between the banks and the end bars, and means on the end of the intermediate bar capable of engaging the support in two positions, said means in one position holding said intermediate bar with the top thereof below the tops of the end bars and said means when inverted holding said intermediate bar with the top edge thereof in substantial horizontal alignment with the top edges of the end bars.

3. In a Warp stop mechanism for a loom provided with a plurality of banks of drop wires, a fixed support, a set of end bars extending along said banks and mounted on said support, the banks being located between said end bars, an intermediate separator bar extending between the banks and the end bars, and an extension formed on the intermediate bar having the greater part thereof vertically displaced with respect to the horizontal longitudinal axis of the intermediate bar and adapted for engagement with the support in tWo positions, the intermediate bar when upright with said extension on the support having the top edge thereof below the top edge of the end bars and said intermediate bar when in inverted position with the extension on said support having the top edge thereoi sum stantially horizontally aligned with the top edges of the end bars,

4. In a warp stop mechanism having a plurality of banks of drop wires, fixed support means, end bars mounted on said support means and extending along said banks with the latter between said end bars, an intermediate separator bar the body of which extends between said end bars and said banks and is capable of being held in two vertical positions with respect to said end bars, and means between the body of said intermediate separator bar and said support means to engage the latter in two positions in one of which said intermediate separator bar has the top edge thereof below the tops of said end bars and in the other position of which said intermediate separator bar has the top edge thereof substantially in alignment with the tops of said end bars.

5. In a warp stop mechanism having a plurality of banks of drop wires, fixed support means, end bars mounted on said support means and extending along said banks with the latter located between said end bars, an intermediate separator bar located between said end bars and banks and having top and bottom horizontal edges, and means on the end of said intermediate separator bar presenting two vertically spaced surfaces each for engagement with said support, said surfaces being so related with respect to said intermediate bar that a central horizontal line midway between the top and bottom edges of said intermediate bar is vertically displaced from a point midway between said surfaces, whereby said bar in one position has the top edge thereof below the top edges of said end bars when one of said surfaces engages the support and said bar when inverted to cause the other of said surfaces to engage the support having the top edge thereof substantially aligned with the top edges of said end bars.

OSCAR V. PAYNE. 

